Mine-car connecter



Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

,UNITED STATES` earner JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOISK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 i iftiimil.

W. n. Minna, INC., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

MINE-CAR GONNECIER.V

This invention relates to improvements in mine car connecters.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient and inexpensive connecter 'which is particularly adapted for mine cars of the type most commonly employed, effective to cushion the shocks in both buffand draft. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described comprising coupling members, engaging resilient loops, wherein the buff and draft shocks are cushioned by the loops, the loops each directly acting as butling members.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter followlnO.

zln the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the adjacent ends of two mine cars, showing my improvements in connection therewith. And F igure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

1n said drawing, each mine car is shown as provided with a flooring composed of a plurality of longitudinally arranged heavy boards 11, and a vertical end wall 12.` At the opposite ends, each car is also provided with a drawbar 13. Each drawbar is in the form of an elongated flat plate eX- tending through the end wall 12 and secured to the inner end of the flooring 10. A boltk 14 extending through the drawbar, the outer end of the iooring 10 and a transversely extending reinforcing member 15 at the under side of the flooring, is preferably provided to fix the outer end of the drawbar to the car.

-`The improved connecter, as showncom prises broadly, two loop shaped spring members A-A and two coupling elements B-B. In carrying out my invention, I provide a spring member A at each end of the car, the same functioning as a buffer. The buffers A are of like construction, `each being in the form of a U shaped loop of bar spring steel, having an outer curved section 16 of relatively long radius and straight side sections or arms 17-17 by which the loop is secured to the corresponding end of the car. Each arm 17 of each loop is fixed to adjacent floor boards 11, between which the same extends by a pair of pins 18--18 extending therethrough and anchoredv in the respective floor boards.

The coupling elements B-B are of like construction, one being connected to each end of the car. Each coupling element B comprises a straight cylindrical shank 19 having a downwardly bent portion at one end forming a hook 2O by which it is attached to the corresponding drawbar 13, the drawbar being provided with an opening 21 through which the hook extends. rlhe end of hook is bent at right angles as clearly shown in Figure 1, thereby providing a horizontal extension 22 coacting with the under surface of the drawbar to prevent accidental disengagement of the hook. As clearly shown in the drawing, there is suflicient clearance between the extension 22 and the under surface of the corresponding drawbar,4 and the hook 2O has suficient play within the opening 21 of the drawbar to permit the element B to be swung vertically. It will be evident that the element B is thus swiveled for movement in both horizontal and vertical planes. Each coupling element is normally so disposed that the shank 19 thereof lies in a horizontal position,

Each of the elements B at the Opposite or free end ofthe shank 19, has formed integral therewith a relatively long coupling pin 23 and a relatively short hook 24. The coupling pin 23 extends downwardly from the shank at right angles thereto and the hook 2i is laterally offset with reference to the shank and lies in a plane at right angles thereto.

rIhe hook 24 comprises a straight section i 25 extending upwardly from the shank 19 in aiinement with the pin 23, a horizontal section 26 and a downwardly extending terminal portion 27 parallel to the section 25. When the cars are coupled together, the pins 23 of each coupling element B at the end of each car is adapted to engage within the loop of the buffer A of the element B on the adj acent'car, and the opposed elements B are so disposed that the hooks 24 thereof extend in opposite directions, each hook being adapted to engage over the shank 19 of the other element B, the terminal portion 27 and the section 25 of the hook of each coupling element B being so spaced as to accommodate the shank of the other coupling ele-- loo ment B for longitudinal sliding movement. ln uncoupling the cars, the same are brought together so as to provide suflicient play between the parts of the coupling members to permit the same to be swung upwardly disengaging the hooks 24 thereof from theV apart, the coupling elements B, being relas tively ixed to the respective cars, .will also be pulled apart and due to the pins 23 there of engaging the respective loops A, the latter will be elongated, therebytaking up the shocks.'

F rom the preceding description, con# sideied in connection withfthe drawing, itf

will be evident that the arrangement which I have provided consists 0i very fewy parts,

all of simple and economical construction,

and the entire arrangement is such that it may be readily app-lied to either new cars or old cars in service without any material modification of the usual mine car now ein` ployed. i

l have herein shown and described what-l now consider the preferred manner ot'carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative, and l contemplate all changes and modilications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

l claim:

l.A ln a connecter for cars, the combination with a pair oit relatively slidable coupling elements, having coacting guide means thereon, each of said elements also having means thereon for pivotally connecting the same to the end of a car; of yielding shock absorbing means adapted to be d'etachably connected to each of said coupling elements to take up the shock during draft, said shock absorbing means also being adapted to absorb the shocks during buil.

Q,- lnV a connecter ior mine cars,- the combination with av spring butler' fixed to one end oiI a car and adapted to coact with a similar butler of another car; of acoupling element swiveled to means on said first named car, said means' being disposed in spaced relation with reference to said butler and adapted to be detachably connected to the spring butler ofthe second named car.

ln' a connecter for cars, the combi-na# tion with a resilient loop xed to one end of a car and adapted to coact with a similar loop on another car to absorb buliing shocks; of a coupling element swiveled to the said end of saidiirst named car, said element having a pin thereon `Vadapted'to engage within the loop on the second named car, thereby yieldingly connecting said cars.

Il. In a device of the character described, theV combinationrofia; pair of spring loops fixed respectively to the opposite ends of adjacent cars, said loops coacting to absorb' the shocks during buil; of a pair of relatively slidable coupling elements having intel-#engaging guide -means thereon, each" o1c said elementsV having a downwardly extending arm at-one endthereot and aihook at the opposite `end thereofflforf'swivelly connecting the same to one oi' said adjacent cars, said arm being adapted to engage within the loop/on the other car, thereby yieldingly connectingsaid cars.

5.. In. mine car construction, the combinationwvith Ka Ushaped resilient butler secured to oneend of a car and adaptedl to coact with a similar butler on anwadjacent car; of a drawbarllixedlto said endof the car; ot' a coupling'element fixed to said drawbar and adapted to coact with a similar coupling ele.- ment onsaid adjacent car; an armrigid with said element and adapted to detachably` engage withiinthteflU yshaped buiinerV on said adjacent cargsand a guide hook on said element adapted to detachabiy engage the shank of 'the coupling element of said adjacent* car toguide the same for relative longitudinalsliding movement* during both bult' and-dirait:

6J In va device'of the character described, the combination with a pair of resilient buffing members fixed respectivelly to adjacent mine cars; olf coupling means-forconnecting the b'ui'ling member of each car to relatively fixed means spaced from the culling memberV on the adjacent car.

7; ln a device of the character described, the combination with apair ofioop -shaped springy laitiers lined respectively to adjacent cars and adapted to directly coact' during bult g of means connected to said cars andtol veach other and' adapted 'to engage within the respective loopsl for couplingy said cars, whereby said cars are yieldingly connected to absorb the shocks during draft.

ln witness that l claimA the foregoing I" have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of' September 1923..

JOHN E. OCONNOR; 

